Fountain clothes-washer



I. SCHENKER AND M. WILAND.

FOUNTAIN CLOTHES WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6,1920.

H H 9H m d2 m I .m a P l. SGHENKER AND M. WILAND.

FOUNTAIN CLOTHES WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1920.

1,372,980. Patented Mam-29,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FOUNTAIN CLOTHES-WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 19121.

Application filed January 6, 1920. Serial No. 349,688.

To (:ZZ whom it may concern.

lie it known that we, Irvine Soiemnrznn and Mounts WnniNn, both citizensof the United States, residing at lilllenville, in the county of Ulsterand State oi New York, have invented certain new and useful11nproveinents in Fountain Clothes-lashers, oil? which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines, the object of theinvention being to provide a fountain clothes washer co1n prising arubbing attachment for wash boards, which will simultaneously rub theclothes upon the board and operate a pump thereby to -l orce waterthrough the clothes during the rubbing operation, and is in the form ofan attachment which may be readily and quickly applied to any wash boardand is comparatively simple in construction, durable in use, effectivein operation and easily manipulated, the washing of the clothes beingobtained during the rubbing thereof by this improved attachment.

in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a perspective view of the present improve ment; Fig. 2 isalso a perspective view with part of the mechanism exposed; Fig. 3 is aci'osssectional view taken on line 3-8 Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a perspectiveunderside view of a part of the rubbing attachment; Fig. 5 is a detailView of the pump; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the present improvement;Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rubbing attachment, some of theparts being broken away for the sake of clearness; Fig. 8 is a detailsection on line 88 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a detail section on line 9-9 ofFig. 7; Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the locking mechanism. Similarcharacters ind'eate corresponding parts in the several figures of thedrawings. The machine comprises in a general way a rubbing attachmentadapted to cooperate with the corrugated wash board and readily liftedto permit the insertion of the article to be washed between it and theboard, and a pumping attachment operated by the rubbing attachment andwhich machine may be readily attached to the side of a wash board in anysuitable or desired way.

In the preferred form thereof herein shown and described, the machinecomprises a pair of brackets 2 and 3. The bracket 2 is adapted topartially overlap or encircle the upper portion of the board, and to besecured thereto by a srrew 5 and is provided with an extended casing 4-for supporting rugated wash board portion 8. Detachably secured to thesleeve portion 9 of the bracket 3 is an upright bracket portion 10, towhich by suitable screws and packing is attached a pump cylinder 11,which is suitably in closed by a liftablc lid 12 whereby the pumpmechanism may be protected from damage and is also made easilyaccessible, This pump cylinder is open at its lower end at 1.35, so thatthe water of the wash tub will have access thereto when the wash boardis placed in the tub. The lower end of this cylinder at the inside ofthe opening is provided with a suitable valve 14:, and within thecylinder is a piston 15 secured to a piston rod 16, which is mounted forreciprocation in the bracket 10, and in the bracket 2, the upper endthereof being suitably supported in the casing 4, which is likewiseprovided with a liftable lid 17 for protecting the same, and to permitaccess thereto. Secured to the upper end of this piston rod and to thecasing is a return coiled spring 17, which operates to shift the pistonupwardly and thereby the scrubbing attachment also when the same ispushed downwardly by the user. Secured to the piston rod for movementtherewith and guided thereby, the rod being so supported that it canoscillate in its bear ings, is the rubbing attachment, which comprises acorrugated plate 18 having at one edge as the upper edge, a brushportion 19, and just under the same is a series of openings 20. Thepiston cylinder is provided with a water outlet 21 in the form of ametalv tube to which may be attached a rubber hose 22 and which hoseleads to another metal tube 23 connected to the rubbing attachment, andwhich leads to a chamber 24 just above the openings 20 of the rubbingattachment whereby when the rubbing attachment is reciprocated up anddown water will be pumped by means ofthe pump into the tube,through therubbing attachment and forced therefrom through the openings 20 on tothe clothes, the rubber hose connecting the two metallic tubespermitting the reciprocation of the rubber in the manner described. Thebrush secured to the rubbing attachment is located in a casing and isremovable therefrom for renewal or replacement by merely lifting a lid19 forming a part of the back of the casing as clearly shown in Figs. 7and 9. e

As stated, the piston rod rocks or oscillates and the rubbing attachmentis rigidly secured thereto for swinging movement therewith andreciprocatory movement with the piston rod, and consequently the rubbingattachment may be lifted for the insertion of the clothes between it andthe wash board. To maintain the rubbing attachment in firm engagementwith the clothes and to prevent the lifting thereof during theoperationof the rubbing attachment, a suitable locking means is provided. Thiscomprises a locking cam 25 pivotally mounted in a casing 26, which islocated at one end of the rubber and formed as a part thereof whereby itswings therewith. This casing is likewise provided with a swinging cover27, and this locking cam is connected with the casing by means of aspring 28 and is mounted on a. small rock shaft 29 carried by the handle30 of the rubbing attachment, which handle is secured at one side to thecasing 26 and at the other side to an upright support 31. The rock shaftis provided with a thumb piece 32 and with a spring 32 for returning therock shaft tr. its normal rocking position and thereby the cam 25.Located on the piston for movement therewith is a cooperating lockingmember 33 having a downwardly projecting portion carrying a suitableroller 34;, which acts as a guide and anti-friction device in connectionwith the strap or band 6, and between which and the side of the washboard the roller is shifted, as the rubbing attachment is moved up anddown. When the locking device 33 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, forinstance, the hooked end engages thecam 25 and thus locks the rubbingattachment in contact with the clothes between it and the board. henhowever, the thumb piece 32 is manipulated to rock the rock shaft, thisswings the cam away from the hooked end whereupon as the casing 26 isprovided with a slotted portion at the inner side thereof, the rubbingattachment can be raised to permitthe insertion of the clothes'betweenit and the board.

To facilitate the adjustment of the rubbing attachment to accommodatedifferent thicknesses of clothes to be washed, the rubbing attachmentand the casing 26. which is formed as a part thereof, is an tomaticallyadjustable, and for this purpose one end thereof is mounted upon apair'of upright posts 36 secured to the piston rod, one at each side ofthe locking device 33, and

between projections 37 formed on the easing and the lower wall of thecasing is located a pair of springs 38, which permit the rubbingattachment to automatically adjust itself to different thicknesses ofarticles to be washed. The rubber tube 22 hercinbe'ioro referred toconnecting the two metal tubes passes through an opening in the cover 27and this cover is also provided with a slotted portion 39 for thereception of the hooked locking device 33, whereby theruhbing altachmentmay be raised and lowered in the manner hereinbefore described.

In operation, a thumb piece is manipulated to release the cam 25 fromits cooperating locking hook 323 whereupon the rubbing attachment may heswung upward to permit the clothes to be placed upon the board.Thereupou the rubbing attachment is swung down whereupon the cam isautomatically returned to its position to lock the hook and thereby lockhe rubbing attachment in close contact with the article to be washedupon the board. The user thereupon grasps the handle of the rubbingattachment and moves it up and down the board, which operationautomatically works the pump and causes the water from the tub to passthrough the tubes and be ejected on to the clothes through the openings20 of the i 5 rubbing attachment in a manner which will be readilyunderstood.

The several swinging lids or covers are hinged in position by suitableinsertible wires, such as i0. and the same means are also used forlocking the covers when closed. The rocking cam rock shaft is alsosuitably inclosed by a cover all. which is likewise hinged in the samemanner, the cover having a slot 42 for the projection of the thumb piece32 by means of which the rock shaft may be manipulated.

The various details may be more or less changed without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the present impr wemcnt. which permits aneffective and ellicient washing and rubbing ofthe clothes simultaneouslyduring the reciprocation of the rubbing attachment over the board. 7

The lower end of the lid or cover 12,

changed is the manner in which the pump is 7 connected with the rubbingattachment. In the present instance the pump cylinder is connected by arigid tube 21. a. flevible hose 22 and another rigid tube 23 leading tothe rubbing attachment, but as the rubbing at ldd lit)

llll) till tachmcnt is directly connected with the piston it willobvious that instead of the tube connections just described, the pumpcould be directly connected with the rubbing attachment by varying theconstruction of the piston. red, as ior instance, the piston rod couldbe made hollow so that the water would pass thcrethrough into a rigidtube, s ch as 23, directly connected with the piston without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the present improvement.

l fc claim as our invention:

l. d. washing attachment adapted to be com ed to one side of a washboard and comp rising reciprocating rubbing means extendin across theface of said board, and a pump extending lengthwise of and located alongthe outer side of said board and connected i 'ith said rubbing means atone end of the actor and operated by the reciprocation said rubbingmeans to force water into contact with the clothes operated upon by therubbing means.

it washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board, comprisinga reciprocating rubbing means havin openings in its under face, meansfor adjustably supportin the rubbing means to permit it to automatically accommodate various thicknesses of ,rticles to be washed, anda pump extending lengthwise of said board at the outer side thereof andconnected with said rubbing means and operated by the reciprocation ofsaid rubbing means to force the water through said openings into contactwith the clothes operated upon by the rubbing means.

it washing attachment adapted to be secured to one side of a wash boardand comn-ising a reciprocating rubbing means extending across the faceof said board and havin perforations therethrough, spring controlledmeans for adjustably supporting the rubbing attachment to permit it toautomatically accommodate various thicknesses of articles to be washed,and a pump extending lengthwise of and located along the outer side ofsaid board and connected with said rubbing means at one end thereof andoperated by the reciprocation of said rubbing means to force water throuh said per- :ibrations into contact with the c othes open atcd upon bythe rubbing means.

4t. 1t. washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board,comprising a reciprocating rubl'iing means having perforationstherethrough and swingingly supported relatively to the wash board,means includf a cam mechanism for automatically locking it in itsoperative position, means for iustably supporting the rubbing means topermit it to automatically accommodate various thicknesses of articlesto be washed, and a pump connected with said rubbing means and operatedby the reciprocation of said rubbing means to force water through saidperforations into contact with the clothes operated upon by the rubbingmeans.

5. A washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board,comprising a self adjusting and self locking reciprocating rubbing meansswingiugly attached to said board and havingopenings in its under face,and a pump connected with said rubbing means and operated by thereciprocation of said rubbing means to force water through said openingsinto contact with the clothes operated upon by the rubbing means.

6. A washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board,comprising a re ciprocating rubbing means having a corrugated surface,and perforations for the passage of water therethrough, and a pumphaving a piston rod attached directly to said rubbing means at one sidethereof and operated by the reciprocation of said rubbing means to forcewater through said perforations into contact with the clothes operatedupon by said rubbing means.

7. A washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board comprisinga pump consisting of a cylinder, a piston therein and a piston rod,means for supporting the piston rod for reciprocation relatively to thecylinder, and rubbing means secured to said rod in such manner that itis shiftable therewith and' may be swung toward and from the wash boardand about the axis of said rod.

8. A washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash board,comprising a pump consisting of a cylinder, a piston therein, and apiston rod, means for supporting the piston rod for reciprocationrelatively to the cylinder, and rubbing moans secured to said rod forreciprocation therewith and adjustable relatively to said rod.

9. A washing attachment adapted to be so cured to a wash board,comprising a pump consisting of a cylinder, a piston therein, and apiston rod, means for supporting the piston rod for reciprocationrelatively to the cylinder, rubbing means secured to said rod forreciprocation therewith, means for lock* ing the rubbing means inengagement with the clothes, and spring controlled means for releasingsaid locking means.

10. A washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash-board andcomprising a reciprocating rubbing means, a pump com prising meansreciprocable with said rubhing means, said rubbing means being capabioof swinging movement to and from said wash-board about the axis of saidsecond means.

11. In a washing attachment adapted to be secured to a wash-board, areciprocating rubbing means, a pump comprising means reciprocable withsaid rubbing means during its reciprocations, means for locking saidrubbing means in its operated position and comprising a springcontrolled cam, a cooperating locking member, and means for shifting;said cam, said rubbing means being connected with said second means andcapable of swinging about the axis thereof.

12. i i-Washing attachment adapted to be secured to a Wash board andcomprising a piston rod and a pump operated thereby, manually operativereciprocating means attached'to said piston rod ior operating it, andmeans connected with said pump for ejecting the water directly into saidreciproeating means, said reciprocating means comprising means forrubbing the clothes.

13. In a Washing attachment adapted to be secured to a Wash-board, apump, reciproand means for permitting the swinging of said rubbing meanstoward and from the board about the longitudinal axis of said pump. 7 v

15. A washing machine comprising a Wash board, a pump secured theretoand having r a reciprocating and rocking piston rod, and

a rubbing attachment secured to said rod and movable about the axis ofsaid rod.

16. A washing machine comprising a wash board, a puin secured theretoand having a. reepirocating and rocking piston rod, :1 rubbing attachm.it secured to said rod and movable therewith and swingable about theaxis of said rod and comprising a rubbing plate, a casing at one endthereo't secured to said plate and to said piston rod, and a handlesecured to said plate for reciprocating it and operating the pump.

17. A washing machine comprising :1 wash board, pump secured thereto andhaving :1 reciprocating and rocking piston rod, :1 rubbingattachmentsecured to said rod and movable therewith and swinggzihle about the axisof said rod and comprising a rubbing plate, a casing at one end thereotsecured to said plate and to said piston rod, a handle secured to saidplate for reciprocating it and operating the pump, locking menus forlocking the plate and the casing in its operative position, said lockingmeans being partly carried within said casing, and in wins carried bythe handle for releasing said looking means.

Signed at Ellenville, in the county of Ulster and State of New York,this 31st day of December, 1919.

IRVING SCHENKER. MOPRIS WILAN D.

